NANTICOKE, August 9, 2017 − Senator John T. Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon) issued the following statement regarding Mayor Jeff Cusat’s request to place the City of Hazleton in Pennsylvania’s Act 47 Program for financially distressed communities.

“No community wants to join the fraternity of distressed cities, but sometimes it is the only responsible decision that elected leaders can make,” said Senator Yudichak. “Northeastern Pennsylvania will never fully thrive economically until Hazleton and other major cities are strong and stable once again.”

“My office will coordinate closely with the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Mayor Jeff Cusat, and Hazleton’s City Council to ensure that the city emerges from Act 47 as quickly as possible and better positioned than when it entered,” he said. “With assistance from Harrisburg, I have the utmost confidence we can work together to execute a financial recovery plan that benefits all residents of the City of Hazleton.”

Representative Tarah Toohil also pledged her support to the City of Hazleton as they begin to navigate the Act 47 program.

“Entering the Act 47 program is the start of financial recovery for the City of Hazleton,” said Rep. Toohil. “We have overcome difficult challenges before and my office will utilize every resource of state government to help our city restructure its finances, meet its obligations to vendors and employees, and continue to provide public services to the people of Hazleton.” she said.